Enhanced features for industrial-grade single-axis MEMS DC accelerometers

Silicon Designs, Inc has launched a series of enhanced design features for its best-selling Model 2220 Series.

Among the improvements are the company's inclusion of a Model 1522 surface mount accelerometer as the primary sense element, an enhanced 1" square anodised aluminium case design and an extended integral cable length to 10'.

Supplied in standard ranges of ±2g to ±400g, single-axis, low-noise, the series MEMS DC accelerometers deliver reliable, stable, and repeatable AC and DC acceleration measurements within zero to medium frequency instrumentation applications. They are especially effective in applications where larger thermal gradients or rapid temperature variation may be present or where hot and cold extremes must be maintained over extended periods. To provide maximum thermal stability and performance, each device's internal sense element is further individually tested, programmed, calibrated and verified within a climate chamber environment in the manufacturing process.

The accelerometers provide a simple four-wire connection with low-impedance outputs that can drive 300m of cable. Their compact and lightweight footprint measures only 1" square and weighs just 10g. The accelerometers are +8VDC to +32VDC powered and provide the dual functionality of a buffered ±4V differential output and a 0.5V to 4.5V single-ended output. Onboard voltage regulation and an internal voltage reference eradicate the necessity for precision power supplies. Each robust, anodised aluminium case of the series is potted and then epoxy sealed, providing ease of accelerometer mounting via two screws, adhesive, or magnets. An initial calibration report is also included with each accelerometer module.

Typical applications for the series include aerial firefighting equipment monitoring; automotive and off-highway vehicle engine, transmission, and suspension systems monitoring; vehicle crash event detection; road load data acquisition (RLDA); aircraft flight, flutter, and vibration testing; bridge and structural health monitoring; pump monitoring; railway monitoring; motorsport acceleration and deceleration measurements; seismic studies; semi-truck stability testing; and wind turbine monitoring.